Randy's Famous Cheesecake reborn after music gig

Jun. 27, 2013

Caramel cheesecake is the most popular. / Submitted

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The Tennessean

Randy's Famous Cheesecake: Red Velvet. / Submitted

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Made in Tennessee is a weekly spotlight featuring products produced in our state. Reach Jen Todd at 615-313-2760 or jtodd1@tennessean.com. For more information on Tennessee products, visit www.picktnproducts.org.

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After a stab at a music career, Randy Owen left life on the road to return to his culinary specialty: homemade, cool, creamy cheesecake. OK, not that Randy Owen ó this Randy Owenís band was Sintonik, not country supergroup Alabama.

Number of employees: Itís just my family: me and my mom, dad, brother and my fiancee.

How did your company get started? I was a pastry chef in a four-star restaurant in Jackson, Miss. Their recipe for cheesecake didnít satisfy their customers or me. So I spent three years creating what I wanted it to taste like. I used the customers as guinea pigs. I now have close to 80 flavors. I actually started the company in Jackson. Then I went on the road with my band, Sintonik, for four years straight. The music business fell off. I got tired of being on the road all the time. I picked the business back up.

What are some of your flavors? The most popular is caramel with chocolate swirled in it. The second most popular is cherry. My original is always pretty popular. Iíve got peaches ín cream, moonshine cheesecake ...

Where are your products manufactured? I rent a kitchen downtown.

Where are they available? The Nashville Farmersí Market and at the store in Hendersonville.

How long have you been making these products? Iíve been making them close to eight years now.

Whatís next for your company? Hopefully growth and more people knowing about the company and coming to get birthday cheesecakes and wedding cheesecakes. Iíve done weddings with up to 25 cheesecakes. People, instead of wanting traditional wedding cakes, are calling to do nine or 10 cheesecakes instead.

Is this a full-time or part-time job? Full time. All I do is bake and sell cheesecake.

Whatís your favorite Tennessee-made product aside from your own? I like the Cinnasmilesí cinnamon rolls and Common Ground bread in the farmersí market.